General What is a Speech-Language Pathologist? Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) prevent, assess, diagnose & treat a variety of speech, language, cognitive-communication, social-communication, feeding & swallowing delays/disorders in individuals of all ages. What are speech & language delays/ disorders? Speech delays/disorders occur when there is a difficulty understanding language (receptive language) or expressing needs, wants, thoughts & feelings (expressive language). There may be difficulty making specific sounds (articulation) or speech may be slow to develop (late-talkers). What is cognitive-communication? Cognitive-communication refers to the ability to organize thoughts, remember, pay-attention, multi-task, plan & problem solve. This is how we operate our lives on a daily basis. Cognitive-communication may be impacted after a stroke, head injury or dementia. It may also be impacted by a variety of congenital disorders & can affect both children & adults. What is social-communication? Social-communication refers to how we relate to & interact with others both verbally & non-verbally. It includes social greetings, commenting, asking questions, engaging in conversation, using appropriate eye contact & body language, story-telling & adjusting ourselves depending on the setting & communication partners. This is what allows us to use language in functional & socially appropriate ways (pragmatics). Social-communication is impacted in those with Autism Spectrum Disorder. It is also commonly impacted in those who have dementia or who have suffered a traumatic brain injury. What do Speech-Language Pathologists have to do with swallowing & feeding? SLPs have extensive knowledge of the oral motor structures involved in eating & swallowing & commonly treat swallowing disorders (dysphagia). Swallowing & feeding difficulties & disorders impact both children & adults. They are frequently seen with diseases (ex: Parkinson's, Cerebral Palsy, dementia), after illnesses, strokes or injuries. Additionally, "picky eating" also commonly accompanies Autism Spectrum Disorder. How do I know if my child needs Speech Therapy? If you have any concerns regarding your child's speech & language development (as referenced above), feel they are not meeting their milestones or feel there is a feeding or swallowing difficulty, please consult with your pediatrician. Feel free to contact us with your questions or call us for a free phone consultation. All children develop at different rates but expected milestones are as follows:
Specific Do you take insurance? Yes, we do! Honey Bee is currently an approved & recognized provider for Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Louisiana and UnitedHealthcare. How much do your services cost? Our rates depend on the service. Please contact us directly regarding specific rates. How long do evaluations take? Evaluations typically take anywhere from 60-90 minutes depending on patient/parental concerns & patient cooperation. We take care to provide breaks for our young patients and those needing a little extra support to get through the evaluation. Evaluation results will be available as soon as possible. Overall impressions will be given immediately and we are happy to answer any questions you may have! How often are therapy sessions? Frequency & duration of therapy sessions depend on the individual. Typically, patients are seen 1-2x per week for 45-60 minutes per session. We work closely with each patient to develop a plan of care to maximize therapeutic benefits in a cost conscious manner. The plan of care will be discussed during the initial evaluation. Is there any paperwork I need to fill out prior to my first visit? All necessary paperwork will be emailed or faxed to you in advance. It is helpful if you can complete the paperwork & email or fax it back to us before the scheduled initial evaluation. If you are unable to do so, we ask that you arrive 15 minutes prior to your scheduled time so that we may collect the paperwork & tie up any loose ends. Do I need anything from my doctor? We require a physician's order for our services (evaluations & therapy sessions). Please ask your physician or your child's pediatrician for a prescription for "Speech Therapy- Evaluation & Treatment." We do not require an order for screenings.